Shweta grew quick, quicker than everyone thought.
“She is going to turn one soon. She is growing up so fast,” exclaimed her mother, Seema.
Shweta was born in a small family, in a small town in the far interiors of the country. A fair, cute and a bright child would be the eye of every person in the village. Her father was a big government official and her mother, a housewife. Yet, they had a swarm of servants at their disposal. No neighbours around. But, Shweta was pampered and taken care of by her mother and father, who were her family.
All the guests showered the child with plenty of gifts- toys, colour books, picture books and everything that a child could be given. After all it was Seema and Jeet’s first child. All of them ensured she did not lack anything. She got everything with love. But, she lacked an important thing- human touch. Though her parents cared for her and loved her, she did not see anyone except her mother, father and a fleet of servants who wandered around their house.
So, she made a life of her own with her toys. Her favorite were the kitchen set, the dolls and a truck. But among these too, she developed fondness for a special doll. Unexpected as it sounds, this doll, which was a gift, was a boy and not a normal Barbie which a girl a girl would love. Do not imagine this boy doll to be like that of Ken from Barbie, this doll was different. He was a small boy of probably eight suited up with a jet black tuxedo, the best one can find for a child.
When she started playing with this toy, Shweta had not grown onld enough to express herself in words. But as she began to speak, she started naming her toys. She named this special guy, “Carter.” She was always in her play world. She called him loud- “Carter come here, I want to play with you.” One day her mother noticed her calling out various names. She heard this name Carter and wondered who her daughter is calling out to. After knowing the situation, she was happy to find her daughter playing and enjoying. A thought did cross her mind- “At the age of 4, where did my daughter listen to such an anglicized name. The TV there did not air English channels.” But she did not bother much as she was preoccupied with the next serial she has to watch. Though mother was at home, she was not with Shweta.
Even though Shweta received many toys and books on her other birthdays, she remained completely loyal to Carter. She did not have friends, but that did not stop her from playing hide n seek with Carter. She did not go to kindergarten but she had Carter all day long. Her mother did not have time to play with her, neither her father was in town to look after his daughter. But, she had no complaints. She went with her mother to the market, but she took Carter along. When her cousins came to stay, she did not play with the, but with Carter.
Curious to know her mother once told her, “Leave your Carter for sometime. Give him breathing space.” She replied instantly, “I cannot leave him. I am like his mother.” Seema was left a little puzzled. But she left it at that and continued her routine.
Shweta was 5 and now it was time for her to go to school. Shweta’s mother gave her the good news of enrolling her in a school and also told her something she did not like, “Shweta, now that you will be going to a big school, you cannot take Carter with you.” Shweta grew sad. She looked at her mother confused about the whole situation. “But Aai, I take Carter everywhere, why cant he come to school with me. I am like his best friend and like his mother.”
“No dear, you will have many friends there. You will get a best friend in school. I am sure you are going to enjoy your time there,” Seema replied.
“Aai, I want Carter. But, you also wont come to the school with me?” Shweta asked curiously.
Seema had a hearty laugh. “Nahi ga. You will learn to be on your own. And like me, you will have a teacher to take care of you. She will help you if you need any help.”
“But aai…”
“Listen, I will tell you” Seema interrupted “In olden days, people who sold things gave the farmers their goods and then got food in exchange. You know whats this called…. Barter trade.”
“Barter Trade??”
“Yes. In a similar way, I am bartering our money for knowledge and nice help from the teacher. And this is for my sweet child. You will get knowledge which will help you. So going to school will help you. ”
Shweta looked amazed and told her mother, “Yes and then I am also going to Barter something. I will barter my Carter with you, for I am going to school as you are saying. So you will take care of my Carter na aai? ”
Seema looked pleased, “Yes I will. You do not worry about him.”
And Seema did. She realized though her daughter has grew in front of her, she did not know. When Shweta was in school, Seema noticed so many things in her daughter’s room which she never knew about- her drawings, her truck and her books. She also understood she missed her daughter reading her first book. And when she saw the name of the book, it was- Carter.
Bartering Shweta’s Carter was the only way Seema could get to know her daughter well, maybe.
